"Mm. With this test, I've got a rough idea of the extent of your full power."
Riveria had found the answer she'd been looking for.
Tsuna hadn't drawn out his strength perfectly, but even a temporary boost that reached this level was already impressive enough.
"For this Joint Expedition, your goal is to raise your Level," she said.
"As long as you can properly control your current power and accomplish feats beyond your current tier, there's no reason for anyone to worry too much."
Still, Riveria couldn't help but feel uneasy about Tsuna venturing off on his own during the expedition to accomplish those Excellia-worthy feats.
"When a puppet kills a monster, the credit doesn't go to you. The puppet's combat only contributes to your Status, not your Excellia."
"Which means you'll have to take the field yourself. That's the one inconvenience in your otherwise convenient ability, Zero-Three."
A pity, really. If the Excellia gained from a Floor Boss slain by a puppet could be counted as Tsuna's, the Loki Familia could practically relax from here on out.
They could simply let Tsuna continue improving his Status, have him use Magic Creation to slay Floor Bosses, gain Excellia, Level Up, and repeat the cycle.
After just a few rounds of that, Tsuna could probably reach Level 9 with ease.
But since the Excellia from a puppet's kill was credited to the puppet itself, that convenient dream was out of reach.
Riveria sighed inwardly at the waste.
"In all our past expeditions, the Dungeon always did its best to resist our advance. It constantly threw obstacles in our way."
"Once we enter the Deep Floors, every layer greets us with a grand banquet—unfortunately, the kind that serves monsters as the main course."
She gave a small, dry smile at her own joke.
"For someone at Level 2, all you need to do is handle those 'banquets.' With your strength, earning Excellia there shouldn't be difficult."
"Of course, when I say 'easy,' I mean only for you."
The Deep Floors' monster parties were never something a low-Level Adventurer could handle lightly.
But the boy before her was an exception.
"I used to worry whether you could deal with situations like that," she admitted.
"But now, I'm not so concerned. The power you command is enough to handle a monster party in the Deep Floors."
Riveria disliked reckless risk-taking.
That was why she'd wanted to confirm just how far Tsuna's own strength could go—to make sure he wouldn't face unnecessary danger while earning Excellia.
Now that she understood the extent of his power, her unease faded.
Only a trace of habitual concern remained.
Still, the mention of surpassing one's Level reminded Riveria of another matter—the one who was about to take that same step today.
"Today's the day Bete challenges the Floor Boss, isn't it? Did you know?"
"I did," Tsuna nodded.
He'd long known that today was the day Amphisbaena would respawn—and that it was Bete's chosen target for advancement.
"Did he tell you himself?"
"No. I think Bete intends to speak to me only after he surpasses Level 5."
"And you're not worried?"
"Worried? No. I don't believe Bete will fail against Amphisbaena. He must have his own reason he has to win."
He'd been anxious when Tiona and Tione fought their Floor Bosses—perhaps too much so, without realizing it.
But when it came to Bete, that worry was absent.
Not because he didn't care, but because he knew Bete had his own conviction to cross that line. He trusted that the man wouldn't go down easily, even alone against a Floor Boss.
"Die!!"
Bete's bloodstained body twisted midair, his heel crashing down onto the remaining head of Amphisbaena.
Boom!
A shockwave blasted outward, sending waves surging across the flooded cavern.
The twin-headed serpent didn't even have time to scream—its massive head slammed into the water with a deafening crash.
A crimson flame ignited beneath Bete's feet, lifting him above the water's surface.
He looked down at the lifeless creature, a feral grin curling across his blood-smeared face.
"It's done..."
Lowering himself slowly through the heat of the fire, Bete landed on the serpent's body.
His flaming claws pierced through the monster's neck, driving into the soft flesh beneath the scales.
"Hah!"
Scarlet flames flared from within the wound, glowing brighter and brighter until the veins beneath the skin shone red-hot—then burst apart.
Bang!
Blood erupted in a half-meter-wide jet, splattering across Bete's entire body, making him look even more dangerous—almost demonic.
At last, both of Amphisbaena's heads were destroyed.
One severed completely, the other hanging by shreds of torn flesh.
The subjugation was complete.
Clap, clap, clap!
Finn Deimne and Gareth Landrock applauded from nearby.
"Well done, Bete."
"Hmph. After all that preparation, this outcome was only natural."
Despite his cocky words, Bete couldn't hide the thrill burning in his eyes.
Finn and Gareth chose to ignore the proud wolf's act and focus on what mattered.
"Facing Amphisbaena alone in its home territory—and not just surviving, but winning cleanly. Even Tiona and Tione barely scraped by last time. You did well, Bete."
Finn's praise was genuine. Bete had earned it.
In the water-dominated terrain, Amphisbaena's power was formidable.
That Bete had used its own patterns against it to win proved his skill and nerve.
Without a bold heart and iron will, no matter how flawless the plan, no one could have executed it.
What's more, Finn had to admit—Bete's control over the Dying Will Flame now far surpassed his own.
Even against Amphisbaena, with its environmental advantage, as long as the fight stayed out of the water, that edge meant little.
After all, this was the Dungeon. Amphisbaena was a Floor Boss—its very purpose was to kill Adventurers. It wasn't a creature that could just hide underwater forever.
Bete had exploited that fact perfectly.
"A clever strategy," Finn said. "But it'll only work here—in the Dungeon, against a Floor Boss."
"Hmph. Of course. This plan was designed specifically for Amphisbaena, and only for it."
Bete didn't bother to argue. He'd said all that needed saying.